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American Morning
Bhutto Assassination and Pakistan Elections; Bullet or Bomb?; Huckabee Losing Support
Aired December 31, 2007 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR (voice over): The Bhutto tape. New video emerges. The final moments of Benazir Bhutto's life, what it means for the investigation and the elections.
Fight to the finish. Head to head and down to the wire in Iowa.
Plus, in with a bang. Ringing in the new year from around the world to Times Square on this AMERICAN MORNING.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: And good morning to you. Thanks very much for joining us on this Monday, the 31st of December.
A happy New Year's Eve to you.
I'm John Roberts.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kiran Chetry.
And we begin with the celebration of the year on the other side of the world. There you see it, beautiful fireworks over Sydney Harbor. Sydney, Australia, just one minute, 17 seconds ago, by the way, ringing in midnight there. The city is celebrating fireworks in the famed Sydney Harbor area. You hear the music and you see the fireworks. Beautiful shot this morning.
They are using a dozen computers to set off more than 100,000 different pyrotechnic displays. We have the ball. They have their giant hourglass on the Harbor Bridge counting down the final seconds. And there you see some of the best pictures.
It was two hours ago that they were doing the same thing in Auckland, New Zealand. The first major city to welcome in the new year, these are the fireworks from atop Auckland's Sky Tower. The party carries on today with free entertainment from dancers and local musicians.
And also, the preps are almost complete for the biggest party of them all, Times Square. This year it will include everything from a brand new ball to special confetti. Millions are expected to pack the streets to watch it. In fact, our own Lola Ogunnaike is at party central. She's going to be joining us live in just a few minutes with a preview. And don't let those empty streets fool you. It is going to be packed with millions just a few short hours from now.
I think, what, 16 hours from now?
ROBERTS: Is it that long? Yes, 16 hours, two minutes and 27 seconds.
Major developments overnight from Pakistan to tell you about. There was another new video showing the assassination of former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto. It may show that an assassin's bullet killed her.
The third generation will now take over. Bhutto's 19-year-old son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has been picked to lead Pakistan's biggest political party. And Bhutto's husband will be in charge in the short term, while her son finishes his studies.
Still not clear whether the elections are going to take place as planned on January 8th. A decision on that could come very soon.
Our Zain Verjee is live in Islamabad for us this morning with the very latest on that.
What are we hearing so far today, Zain?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPT. CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, we're hearing that the January 8th election is still very much up in the air. We're hearing, too, that the election commission is going to meet tomorrow, and they're going to make a final and definitive decision.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples Party has said that they will stand in elections. Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif, who had previously said there was no way he was going to stand in the elections, that he was going to boycott, he is now coming out and saying that he will also contest the elections.
John, the cabinet has been meeting today to discuss what on earth they're going to do, what kind of decision they'll take. And what they're doing is they're waiting on the election commission to get some reports from the different provinces around the country. And those reports are going to assess the law and order situation on the ground to see if they can actually push forward, because, you know, in the last few days, a lot of election offices have been burned down. They've even stopped printing ballots.
The other thing that a lot of people are talking about here, too, John, that could delay the elections is that there's a 40-day mourning period for Benazir Bhutto, and that actually coincides with the Month of Muharram, and that is a very significant Shia mourning period. And during that time, there's no political activity, the entire political establishment shuts down, and as a sign of respect, things really wind down in the country.
So, it appears more likely that the elections may be delayed for a while. But we'll know for sure tomorrow -- John.
ROBERTS: All right. Zain Verjee for us this morning live from Islamabad.
Zain, thanks.
It is being called Pakistan's Zapruder film, brand new footage that shows the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. A warning that some of what you're about to see and hear is very graphic.
You can clearly hear in this video -- and take a listen -- three shots fired, and then you see Bhutto's head scarf and hair move on the left side of her head. She then falls back into her car before the suicide bomber detonates his explosive belt.
Our Ali Velshi has got more on that from Islamabad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Two videos released since Bhutto's death show different angles of her assassination. Both seeming to support the theory that Bhutto was shot.
This widely-seen video shows a man on the right raising a gun, pointing it in the direction of Bhutto, who is standing up in her car, with her upper body through the sunroof. He fires three shots. Then an explosion.
Another angle. On the far left, a clean-shaven man in a dark suit and sunglasses approaches Bhutto's car. He's the suspected shooter. Police are in the vicinity, but do not appear to be keeping anyone away from Bhutto's car. Then, three gunshots. You can still see Bhutto standing. Her hair and scarf appear to move, perhaps from the bullet. Then Bhutto falls into the car, clearly before the blast.
These images appear to show what most people assumed from the beginning, that Benazir Bhutto died at the hands of a shooter, and then a suicide bomb was detonated, killing another 23 people. Everyone in Bhutto's bomb-proof car lives except her. Those with her say they saw her bleeding from her wounds and the heavily blood- stained interior appears to support them.
The doctor who initially examined the body said she died of bullet wounds. Then the government said she died from shrapnel wounds from the explosion. Then the government released x-rays of Bhutto's skull, saying it shows she died when she hit her head on the metal lever of the sunroof, as she fell into the car. But this video challenges that, showing Bhutto dropping and disappearing through the sunroof after the gunshots, but before the explosion.
Ali Velshi, CNN, Islamabad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: And we're just a few days before one of the first major steps in the battle for the White House. The Iowa caucuses just a few days away, and the polls showing the top three Democratic candidates running neck and neck and neck.
Earlier on AMERICAN MORNING, I had a chance to speak to John Edwards about his chances to win in Iowa.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We've got an awful lot of momentum now. You know? I can see it in the events we have here. And we have overflow crowds, a lot of energy and enthusiasm. People can't get in the door.
I mean, this is what you want to see at the end of the campaign. So we feel very encouraged.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Edwards also said he's going to be spending New Year's Eve with supporters, trying to get the last-minute support before Thursday's caucuses.
We also got to talk to Mike Huckabee on the GOP side. New polls show the Republican candidate is seeing his support slip in Iowa. His double-digit lead now gone. He's in a statistical tie with Mitt Romney.
Yesterday, he accused the Romney campaign of being "dishonest." Today, Huckabee said it's a counterattack.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I just think that the attacks by the Romney campaign have gotten really kind of out of bounds for good politics, particularly within the Republican Party, totally violating Reagan's 11th commandment. And it's certainly not the kind of, I think, discourse that makes for a good election and for a good decision on the part of the voters.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: On "Meet the Press" yesterday, Huckabee said Romney's relentless ads about his record may have hurt him.
And he keeps saying no, but he could be ready to change his mind. "The New York Times" reporting that New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg may be ready to throw his hat into the presidential race as an Independent or third party candidate. The Times says Bloomberg has privately discussed entering the race if the nominees of the two major parties are politically spread apart, like, for instance, Mike Huckabee and John Edwards.
As an Independent, Bloomberg does not have to worry about the primaries and caucuses. Of course, the rest of the candidates do. And as we said, the Iowa caucuses are just three days away.
CNN's Dana Bash following the Republican race live in Des Moines. It doesn't seem -- we've talked to two of the candidates this morning -- that anyone is getting much sleep at all, Dana, as they make this 11th hour push to secure those votes.
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, not the candidates or the people covering -- covering those candidates.
But you're right, with those caucuses just three days away, as you said, Mike Huckabee's surge does seem to have plateaued a bit. And while his chief rival here, Mitt Romney, really is relying on a sophisticated and well-funded network in order to get out the caucus or get out the vote, if you will, now more than ever, Huckabee is relying on passion, passion from an intricate network of evangelicals.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH (voice over): At the Community Heights Alliance in Newton, Iowa, it's not just about praying and praising the lord. It's about politics.
CORY STOUT, PASTOR: You know the caucus is coming to Iowa on Thursday. I want to encourage each and every one of us to take part.
BASH: No endorsement from the pulpit, but the pastor supports Mike Huckabee, plays a video to point them in the right direction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When the righteous rule, the people rejoice.
BASH: These are evangelicals Huckabee is relying on.
JAMES PATRICK, EVANGELICAL: I have a responsibility as being a follower of Jesus Christ to choose godly people.
BASH: Volunteers lobbying church-goers to support the former preacher.
PAT THIES, EVANGELICAL: I am kind of trying to get the word out to my friends, who I think have the same values, who would be interested in him.
BASH: Yet, despite passion here, new polls show Huckabee's Iowa support is slipping. A series of misstatements in the wake of crisis in Pakistan have some backers worried the former Arkansas governor lacks credentials.
LINDA ROTHFUSS: National security and national interest is huge for us. And I know there are other people who have a little more foreign policy experience.
BASH: Huckabee says Mitt Romney's barrage of ads against him on taxes, immigration and crime has hurt.
HUCKABEE: If a person is dishonest in order to get a job, do you believe that he will be honest if he gets the job?
BASH: So, with days to go, he has abandoned his promise to stay positive, launching at Romney.
HUCKABEE: He's a recent convert to the pro-life position. And if I want to say, well, is it real? His healthcare plan has a $50 co- pay for an elective abortion.
BASH: Meanwhile, Romney's frenzied bus tour is aimed at closing positive, suddenly avoiding confrontation.
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm going to try to keep this from being a personal matter and personal attacks. I just don't think it serves the candidate or the process very well.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: Now, Huckabee's camp calls that disingenuous, because Romney is flooding the airwaves here, flooding voters' mailboxes with some negative information about Mike Huckabee and his record. But, Kiran, Huckabee is about to play that game too.
He spent all day yesterday not campaigning, but rather cutting a new television ad. And we expect to see that as soon as today, hitting Mitt Romney. Now, it's a risky 11th-hour strategy for a man who has really prodded himself on a positive campaign, but one he clearly thinks he needs in these final days and hours in order to keep support here from eroding -- Kiran.
CHETRY: All right. Dana Bash for us in Des Moines this morning.
We didn't forget about you guys covering the campaign. I know you're short on the sleep as well.
Happy New Year to you, Dana. Thanks.
BASH: You too. Happy New Year.
CHETRY: Well, after the last-minute campaigning it will be the people's turn. CNN's special coverage of the Iowa caucuses beginning at 8:00 eastern Thursday night. An unpredictable election year. You don't want to miss a minute of coverage from the CNN election center.
Iowa caucuses Thursday night. It all beings 8:00 Eastern.
ROBERTS: New this morning, charges of election fraud in the African nation of Kenya sparking protests and deadly rioting there. Police are firing shots and tear gas into crowds for the second day today.
Kenya's national broadcaster is reporting this morning dramatic new numbers -- 124 people killed in violence that erupted after Kenya's president announced his reelection. European Union monitors are questioning the vote, but the U.S. has accepted the results.
It's deadline day for North Korea. Pyongyang has until today to come clean about all of its past and present nuclear programs. Earlier this year, North Korea struck a deal promising to disable its main nuclear reactor in exchange for economic aid and political concessions. The State Department says so far, North Korea has failed to fulfill its end of the bargain.
And a year-end evaluation on the mission in Iraq. The U.S. military says 2007 will end as the deadliest year for U.S. troops since the war began four years ago with 888 troops killed. The top commanders say December ends in a dramatic decline in violence thanks to the recent troop surge.
Twenty Americans were killed this month. That is the lowest monthly total of the entire war.
CHETRY: Well, tonight they drop the ball, and New York has even more reason to celebrate. How did New York City manage to make 2007 one of the safest on record, while some other big cities are seeing their crime rates jump?
We're going to be speaking to New York City police commissioner Ray Kelly coming up in just a minute.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: A live picture there this morning of Times Square. Very quiet right now. The streets are even fairly empty. But it's going to be a lot different come later on this evening.
Millions of people will be jammed in there. You can ring in the new year right here on CNN, by the way. Join Anderson Cooper and Kiran live from Times Square. It all starts at 11:00 p.m. Eastern tonight.
And we want to know how you're ringing in the new year. Send your party pictures and videos at cnn.com/iparty. It's kind of like I-Report, but a New Year's Eve party -- cnn.com/iparty, and we'll put some of those on the air tonight.
Here's Kiran.
CHETRY: That's right.
Look how happy it's making Anderson, just knowing that we're all going to be out there.
Well, as New York City prepares to ring in the new year, it does have something to brag about, for sure. The New York Police Department says crime is down in every major category, including the lowest numbers of murder since they've been keeping track.
So how is New York doing it, while other big cities are seeing crime go up?
Joining us now, Ray Kelly, commissioner of the New York Police Department.
Commissioner Kelly, great to see you this morning.
RAY KELLY, NYPD COMMISSIONER: Good to be with you, Kiran. CHETRY: You know, when we take a look at the numbers, it does have implications outside of New York alone, because perhaps there are some lessons to be learned here for other cities. But let's take a look at the numbers.
Since 2001, murder is down 25 percent, rape is down 32 percent. Subway crime, 38 percent drop.
How did you guys specifically pull it off? What did your officers do differently?
KELLY: The cops are doing a terrific job here in New York.
One thing that's worked very well for us is Operation Impact. We've taken virtually all of our recruits graduated from the police academy, put them in hot spots, areas where there's been a spike in violence, or shootings, that sort of thing, coupled them with experienced supervisors. Crime has gone down about 30 percent in those impact zones, we call it. And that's been going on for five years now.
CHETRY: How do the new recruits make a difference in those areas?
KELLY: Well, they bring a great energy, a great vigor to the job. And, of course, as I say, they're coupled with experienced supervisors.
So, you take that experience, you take that energy, and it's worked very well for us.
CHETRY: This is what you've called community policing, something that has proven to be helpful, because there is, in some urban areas, this feeling that it's us against them when it comes to police. "Stop snitching" -- as you know, people wearing T-shirts actually saying not to turn in people who commit crimes.
So, how do you break that barrier in a city as large and diverse as New York?
KELLY: Well, it's a challenge. We work at it every day.
We work closely with community groups. We have a very diverse department, a department that reflects this city. This is the most diverse city in the world, and our department, I think, reflects that diversity well. So, we interact every day with the communities of this city, I think, in a very effective way.
CHETRY: What about a place like Philadelphia, that's dealing with major problems, including murder rates? What lessons can they learn?
KELLY: Well, I'm not in a position to give anybody any lessons. We certainly stand ready to help any city that wants to come here. But no two cities are alike. They all have different problems, different cultures, different departments, different sizes, of course. So -- but if anybody wants to come here, we certainly welcome that.
CHETRY: One of the other interesting things, nuisance crimes. I personally, you know, have noticed that the squeegee men, that was one thing that was a big deal when Mayor Giuliani was in charge of the city. The squeegee men seem to be back in some of the areas. Are we looking at a change in nuisance crimes, or is that just...
KELLY: No, we pay a lot of attention to quality of life issues. So, I want to know if they're back. If you see them back...
CHETRY: Any time I'm trying to come back from the Lincoln Tunnel, I feel like they run up to your car, intimidate you a little bit, and...
KELLY: Well, that's something we have to pay attention to, because that's clearly something that impacts on the feeling that people have, the environment. So, that's something that we just can't tolerate.
CHETRY: Talking about New Year's Eve tonight, you guys are getting ready for probably one of your biggest nights of the year. You're expecting millions of people packed into a small area.
Give us a -- give us a look at what people can expect if they are coming out there and what type of security measures are going to be in place.
KELLY: Well, they can expect to be stopped and have their bags searched at least three times as they enter the main area. No alcohol will be permitted.
You'll see a lot of police presence, of course. Our helicopters will be up in the air. There will just be a lot of entertainment going on as well. Starting at about 8:00, they'll have some major acts right out there in the Times Square area.
So, the nature of it has changed somewhat from years past. Now it really is a full entertainment event for several hours.
CHETRY: Once you enter, you can expect to leave and be able to come back?
KELLY: Once you enter, you cannot leave, that's correct. And that puts a challenge on a lot of people. And people don't realize that when they go there initially. But they just can't leave. Otherwise, it creates chaos for us, people trying to get back into the spot that they were in. So you just can't do that.
CHETRY: And in the years after September 11th, terror attacks, after 2001, all we talked about was security in places like the Times Square celebration. It seems like we've made advancements since then and we're not talking about that as much. We're back to talking about the celebrations.
Is there any fear that we've sort of let our guard down a little bit? KELLY: We certainly haven't let our guard down. We have counterterrorism overlay, we have a lot of additional police officers, observation posts.
As I say, our helicopters in the air, our radiation detectors are out, our counterterrorism bureau and our intelligence division are working full bore, I can assure you. So, we're not letting our guard down. Any time you get large numbers of people gathering after September 11th, you have to take special precautions, and that's precisely what we're doing.
CHETRY: Well, you'll be out there. I'll be out there. Hopefully it will be a great party and a lot of fun.
KELLY: I'll be looking for you.
CHETRY: Thanks for keeping us all safe. Great to see you, Commissioner Kelly.
KELLY: Thank you, Kiran. Good to be with you.
ROBERTS: And hopefully it will be a happy and safe New Year's.
It's 22 minutes after the hour.
A skier lost on the slopes in Washington State spends an entire day packed in snow and ice. The being packed in snow and ice was on purpose. It saved his life.
We'll have his story coming up.
And it's a real-life Hollywood script starring director Oliver Stone. Why he is getting involved in a hostage drama in South America -- ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: She survived for two days after a plane crash in Panama. This morning, she is out of the hospital.
Francesca Lewis will spend a few days in Panama with her parents before the family returns to southern California. Her father says that she still has some aches and pains.
The December 23rd crash killed Lewis' 13-year-old friend, Talia Klein, Talia's father, Michael, and the Panamanian pilot. Lewis was found two days later.
Two brothers who helped find her say that they don't want the $25,000 reward that was offered. Instead, they're asking for visas so that they can come to the United States to work.
And a skier lost in Washington State saves his own life by digging a snow cave. Olympic National Park rangers say Randy Kraxberger survived a frigid night packed in snow and ice. The 53- year-old built the shelter after getting surrounded by blizzard conditions.
He first reported trouble Saturday afternoon. About a dozen park staff and other volunteers set off to find him. He describes the moment that he saw his rescuers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANDY KRAXBERGER, RESCUED SKIER: As I was standing there, trying to figure out what to do next, I heard -- heard voices coming on the wind. And I had a whistle with me. And I started blowing that quite furiously, and Tony and Scott from the Olympic Mountain Rescue team came over the hill out of the -- out of the wind and located me there. It was a wonderful experience.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: It sure was. A very fortunate fellow. Rescuers found Randy in good condition. They say that he had the right gear with him to stay safe, and the right knowledge, too.
CHETRY: That's right. Smart guy.
Well, you're watching the most news in the morning.
Could there be a new contender for the race for the White House? We're going to tell you about new reports, what they're saying about Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Also, it's being called Pakistan's Zapruder film, new videotape of the last moments of Benazir Bhutto's life. And now accusations of a conspiracy surrounding her assassination. The video of her final moments and those accusations coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: There it is, a shot from WHDH, Boston, Massachusetts. This morning, they're looking at a light snow taking place right now. In fact, so light, we can barely see it in that shot.
Thirty-four degrees right now. More snow in the forecast. A high of 37 degrees a little bit later.
We'll get an update from Jacqui Jeras on exactly what we can expect weather-wise on this New Year's Eve.
It's Monday, December 31st. Thanks for being with us.
I'm Kiran Chetry.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN HOST: Good morning to you. I'm John Roberts.
New this morning, we're waiting for a decision from Pakistan on whether elections will take place as planned one week from tomorrow. The assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has put that vote in question. A spokesman for Pakistan's Election Commission says a decision about whether elections should be delayed could come by tomorrow. Bhutto's party has already said that the vote should not be delayed. They say that they're prepared to go ahead with the elections. We're hearing reports that the government may seek a four-week delay.
And new video has surfaced, showing the moment that Benazir Bhutto was killed and it may offer evidence that it was a bullet that killed her. You can hear three shots and see the former prime minister slump down in her car before a suicide bomber then blows himself up.
The government says the explosion caused Bhutto to suffer a fatal head injury. There, you see the explosion. When she hit her head on a lever that was controlling the car's sunroof.
The hospital that tried to save Benazir Bhutto now says police blocked an autopsy. Bhutto's family is insisting she was shot and that the government is lying because it didn't do enough to protect the former prime minister. A lawyer on the hospital's board says he was speaking out because doctors feel quote "threatened."
Kiran?
CHETRY: Also new this morning, charges of election fraud in the African nation of Kenya, sparking protests and deadly rioting, police firing shots and teargas into crowds for the second day today. Kenya's national broadcaster is reporting 124 people have been killed in the violence that erupted after Kenya's president announced he won reelection.
And there is a manhunt going on in Phoenix right now for a gunman known as Psycho. Police say Jose Francisco Mendoza shot and wounded six people and a dog Saturday night. Police surrounded him but he escaped during an exchange of gunfire. They say Mendoza had a long standing dispute with the victims. All of the victims are hospitalized in stable condition.
And we're just days away and counting from the Iowa caucuses. Nearly every poll showing the race on both sides too close to call. One poll has John Edwards in the lead by a point. He talked to us earlier on AMERICAN MORNING.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EDWARDS: We've got an awful lot of momentum now. I can see it in the events we have here. We have overflow crowds, a lot of energy and enthusiasm. People can't get in the door. This is what you want to see at the end of a campaign. We feel very encouraged.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Edwards says he is going to spend New Year's Eve with supporters, trying to get the last-minute support before Thursday's caucuses. And we also spoke with Mike Huckabee, polls showing he is in a statistical tie with Mitt Romney after losing a double-digit lead. Here is what he had to say earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I just think that the attacks by the Romney campaign have gotten really kind of out of bounds for good politics, particularly within the Republican Party. Totally violating Reagan's 11th Commandment. And it certainly is not the kind of, I think, discourse that makes for a good election and for a good decision on the part of the voters.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Huckabee says Romney has outspent him and that Romney's relentless ads may have hurt him.
He also keeps saying no, but could be ready to change his mind. We're talking about Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City. "The New York Times" reporting that the mayor may be ready to throw his hat into the presidential race. The "Times" says Bloomberg has privately discussed entering the race as an independent if the nominees from the two major parties are spread apart politically.
ROBERTS: Only three days until Iowa voters casts the first votes in the 2008 presidential campaign. What are the candidates doing in their final push through the state?
Our senior political correspondent Candy Crowley is in Des Moines for us. Seventy two hours, it's down to the wire, Candy. How are these candidates using their time leading up to Thursday?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Trying to talk to and shake hands with any voter they can find. I mean, remember, the average of caucus going numbers in years' past has been around 100,000, sometimes up to 120,000. So, the fact of the matter is that every single vote really does count. And not just a slogan here. They know that it matters, how many people they get out to these specific precincts. So they're doing that.
Meanwhile, inside their campaigns, that's where most of the get out the vote activity is going on. They are calling. They are knocking on doors. They are making promises, we'll come and pick you up. We have a buddy that will come and you can go to the caucus with them. They'll be catering there. We'll shovel your walk if it's too snowy. So lots of things going on to make sure that every single voter they have identified as a supporter for their candidate is going to actually show up at those caucuses, John.
ROBERTS: The get out the vote operation for Iowa is just extraordinary. It sort of mirrors what happened in the general election in 2004. Why has it increased to this level?
CROWLEY: Well, because the stakes are really high in Iowa this time. All the campaigns, regardless of what they tell you about how they're going to go on, no matter what happens in Iowa, they know this first of the nation contest, there are five days between the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. They know there's not a lot of time. You get such momentum and such free press coming out of here that it does affect New Hampshire. It does affect how the nation sort of gives a second look to or a last look to these candidates. So the stakes are really high here.
And again, if you shovel the walk of a woman who is going to support you, that's one more vote on the Democratic side, that gets you to so-called viability, the 15 percent of people you need inside a caucus in order to caucus for you. So it's just the stakes are high and every vote out there is being pursued.
ROBERTS: Two of the big stories, as we just mentioned, Candy, in these closing days are a late surge by John Edwards, which mirrors what happened to him in Iowa in 2004 and then a turn around in the numbers for Mike Huckabee. What's going on with Huckabee? Are the attacks on the part of the Mitt Romney campaign having an effect?
CROWLEY: That's what you have to believe at this point, because that's what's happened between the time Huckabee was ahead by what looked like a comfortable two-digit number to where they are now virtually tied. And anything can happen. Well, what's happened since then? Mitt Romney has been on the air, pounding Huckabee.
Huckabee obviously believes that, because despite his reputation as a nice guy who doesn't believe in this sort of campaigning, he is out saying Romney has been dishonest about my record, he is dishonest about his own record.
So we have these two men really going at it because, again, they are in a dead heat here. And I think the only way you can read this is that, despite all this talk that Iowans don't like negative campaigning, it still works.
ROBERTS: And they'll tell you one of the prime rules in politics, too, is you cannot afford to be defined by your opponent.
CROWLEY: Absolutely.
ROBERTS: I guess that's why we see Huckabee fighting back. Candy Crowley for us this morning from Des Moines. Candy, thanks very much.
CROWLEY: Thanks, John.
ROBERTS: After the last minute campaigning it's going to be the people's turn. CNN's special coverage of the Iowa caucuses begins at 8:00 Eastern on Thursday night. An unpredictable election year, to be sure. So you don't want to miss a minute of coverage from the CNN Election Center. The Iowa caucuses, beginning Thursday night at 8:00 Eastern. Don't forget, too, that AMERICAN MORNING is going to be out in Iowa both Wednesday and Thursday. So join us. Because we're going to have a lot of fun visiting a couple diners in Iowa City and Des Moines talking politics.
CHETRY: Politics and eggs. How about it?
All right, well, this morning, Hollywood director Oliver Stone is in Colombia, part of a delegation waiting for the release of three hostages. One of those is a three-year-old boy born in captivity, they are being held by Colombian rebels. However, the hostages have not been set free nor has the group given any instructions to the delegation, which includes Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Stone was invited by Chavez and says he is collecting material for a documentary.
Several cases of planes getting too close for comfort both in the air and on the runways. Coming up, how rules were broken.
Also, a storm is brewing. It will be in the Northeast. Will we be snowed in here for New Year's Eve? We're tracking the extreme weather from the CNN weather center, coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
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CHETRY: Welcome back to the most news in the morning. Wow. Check out these pictures coming to us from Washington State. Lots of weather to tell you about.
Roads tough for drivers there. It could turn out to be the snowiest December ever in parts of Washington State. There's another shot of the roadways, the plowing going slowly, this coming to us courtesy of KIRO there in Seattle.
Well, it looks like 2008 will start the same way 2007 ended in Upstate New York, with a lot of snow. Up to 10 inches on the ground in the Albany area, commuters slipping and sliding, but no major problems reported. Our Rob Marciano is off today. Jacqui Jeras, tracking extreme weather for us. And those snow flakes just look so heavy in that video from Albany. You can almost feel it.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yeah. A lot of moisture with this one. Isn't it beautiful, though?
CHETRY: Gorgeous.
JERAS: It's kind of a bummer for the travelers, but I love it. Bring it on. It's the holidays, right. Cozy up with cocoa by the fireplace and just enjoy it.
Well, the snow is starting to pull out of the Albany area now. And looking a lot better across the northeastern corridor. It's hassle this morning. By this afternoon, it is going to be out of here and it will be just fine for your New Year's celebration. The snow remains heavy into parts of Maine, and it's been coming down real heavy in the Portland area. The good news there, though, is that the airport has opened back up a little bit earlier than they expected.
The one-two punch on the way, though. We have got another system moving across the Midwest, this is going to be bringing in some snow to Chicago, up towards Detroit this afternoon and into tonight. We're looking at accumulations probably around a handful of inches or so. A few of you could see heavier amounts off the lake with the enhancement of that warm water there.
That storm will then move into the Northeast and bring you another round by late tomorrow night. Now, the snow we're getting in the Northeast right now, that system was in the Southeast yesterday and we're paying the price for all that wonderful rain today. It is foggy out there. The Atlanta metro area right now is just really socked in. There's a ground stop at the airport. And I just wanted to show you a tower cam we have from Weatherbonk.com (ph). This is from 75/85 connector. Look at the visibility. It's really poor. You guys should have seen me driving into work this morning. I was like the little old lady with her glasses on, driving like this. Because it was maybe 200 feet at times. It was really awful out there.
CHETRY: That's the scariest part, trying to get through the fog on the roadways like that.
JERAS: It is.
CHETRY: You made it safe and sound.
JERAS: I did.
CHETRY: Good news. Thanks, Jacqui.
ROBERTS: It's 43 minutes now after the hour. We've been asking our AMERICAN MORNING team of correspondents for the most important and most interesting stories of 2007. Our legal contributor, Sonny Hostin tells us it was a year that could change how laws are enforced and how people are punished. Good morning to you.
SONNY HOSTIN, AMERICAN MORNING LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning.
ROBERTS: So. I'm getting a sense of what you think was the most important legal story for 2007?
HOSTIN: You know, the Supreme Court was extremely active this year. We talked a lot about it. They addressed the crack cocaine disparity. Remember, before it was 100 times you need powder cocaine to get the equivalent sentence of crack cocaine. The Supreme Court changed that, changed the sentencing guidelines.
But the other very interesting thing is that they retroactively shortened the sentences. So it now applies to 20,000 inmates, who will probably be released early. And it's been reported that no other law or act of clemency has affected so many people at one time. And so that was very big for me.
Also, we talked a lot about the death penalty this year. Supreme Court was very active. This sort of moratorium now, they're going to decide whether or not lethal injections are cruel and unusual. And we've got a lot of e-mails, a lot of talk about that.
ROBERTS: At the same time the state of New Jersey abolishing the death penalty.
HOSTIN: Exactly. That was huge. And I think 2007 was also the year of celebrities behaving badly.
ROBERTS: Oh, yeah.
HOSTIN: We saw Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Mischa Barton, Eve, Michelle Rodriguez, all DUIs. And we'll say alcohol monitoring bracelets were so 2007. Let's see chauffeurs in 2008 for these celebs.
And the other thing is O.J. We got to see him again after 10, 15 years. We're seeing him in the news again and we'll follow him in April 2008, April 7th, is when we're going to see the trial. I found this quote from one defense attorney, and I think it really, really sums up the witnesses we'll be seeing. He said crack heads and groupies and pimps and purveyors of stolen merchandise and gun carriers and crooks. And that is what we're going to be seeing in 2008 in April. And I can't wait. O.J. is sort of the gift that keeps on giving for us legal analysts. We're going to be following him.
ROBERTS: And for cable news networks as well.
HOSTIN: That's right. It's going to be the year of O.J., I think.
ROBERTS: It really is kind of a sad statement, though, isn't it, that the fashion action accessory for 2007 was the ankle bracelet for the celebrities.
HOSTIN: It was the ankle bracelet. You saw it in "US Magazine," you saw it in the news. It's so, so 2007 celebrities. Let's get chauffeurs, 2008.
ROBERTS: What kind of signal are they sending to young people out there to look up to them as role models?
HOSTIN: Exactly. And the bottom line is when you drive drunk, you can kill someone and it happens all the time. So, let's -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving and that sort of thing, let's become more and more active and let's talk to these celebrities about shame on you.
ROBERTS: All right. Sonny Hostin, thanks.
HOSTIN: Thank you, John.
ROBERTS: Interesting year.
CHETRY: They have all the money in the world. Hire a driver if you're going to go out and drink.
HOSTIN: Chauffeurs. 2008. That's what I want to see. I want to see drivers.
CHETRY: It will be the year of the little hat. Sonny, good to see you.
HOSTIN: Thank you. CHETRY: Well, CNN NEWSROOM just minutes away. Heidi Collins is at the CNN center now with a look at what's ahead. Happy New Year's Eve, Heidi.
COLLINS: Happy New Year's Eve to you, too, as well, Kiran. That's right. It is New Year's Eve in the CNN NEWSROOM today. These stories now on the rundown, gun shots and then the suicide explosion. New video shows the attack on Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto.
And Iowa countdown. Three days to go. Presidential candidates try to stand out. Caucuses races shaping up to be squeakers.
And hello, 2008. Australia and East Asia greet the new year. We'll count down to Times Square and CNN's live coverage tonight. John me in the NEWSROOM. We'll get started at the top of the hour right here on CNN. Kiran?
CHETRY: All right. Heidi, thanks so much. Still ahead, several reports on airline incidents topping your quick hits now. A miscommunication between a pilot and air traffic controller caused two airliners to come within 8,000 feet of each other. This was on a runway at LAX last week. The pilot of one of the planes was told not to cross the runway, but misheard the instruction.
Then two planes got a mile closer to each other than they were supposed to over Indiana. That happened last Thursday. Aviation officials say that one of the pilots did not follow instructions. And that same day, controllers improperly directed two planes as they were getting ready to land at Chicago's O'Hare airport. The planes were still 2.8 miles apart, but four miles is the recommended distance.
Well, 2007 has been an entertaining year. But in some cases, for all the wrong reasons. We were just talking about some of the celebrity bad behavior. Paris Hilton went to jail. She was far from the only celebrity in trouble.
We're going to wrap up the year in entertainment, coming up.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're getting closer!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is their problem?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa!
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ROBERTS: Thrills and spills and another strong weekend at the box office for "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" the sequel to "National Treasure" starring Nicolas Cage, brought in $35.6 million, coming in first for the second week in a row. One box office tracker says Hollywood took in $9.6 billion at the box office this year. That would make it its biggest revenue year ever. CHETRY: Now, we've been asking our AMERICAN MORNING team of correspondents for the most important and most interesting stories of 2007. And of course we can't leave out entertainment. Our Lola Ogunnaike has the view from the entertainment beat live in Times Square on this New Year's Eve.
LOLA OGUNNAIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's -- There's been a writers strike going on as we know, Lola. So at least it's good that some drama has been created off-camera by some of these stars.
Yeah, the writers' strike is actually dragging into its ninth week, Kiran. No one was expecting it to last that long. But it's dragged on. That's meant for viewers a number of their favorite shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives" have been pushed into repeats. And the awards shows have also been affected.
The Writers' Guild has refused to allow writers to participate in the Golden Globes and the writers also have promised to picket the awards ceremony. So it's not looking good. The Golden Globes won't be that golden this year. But in other news, I've dubbed this year the year of the train wreck, Kiran.
You had girls and boys, Hollywood starlets and veterans all behaving badly. The year sort of kicked off with Anna Nicole accidentally, you know, overdosing on prescription pills and then -- that was in February. Then you had Paris Hilton in jail by June. You had Lindsay Lohan in and out of rehab. You had Amy Winehouse saying no, no, no to rehab. Then you had Britney Spears behaving badly all year long. She shaved her head, she lost custody of her children. She bombed at the MTV Music Video Awards and refused to wear underwear. Little sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, also earned her own train wreck status this year when she announced last week that she was pregnant and she's only 16.
CHETRY: Yeah, you're right. You just reminded me, because a few of those I forgot or maybe I would have liked to have forgotten. I still have the mental image of Britney dancing at the entertainment awards. So what are we looking ahead to in 2008? Are we hoping it will be a year of ushering change for these celebrities?
OGUNNAIKE: Hopefully so. It wasn't only the girls behaving badly this year, Kiran. It was Don Imus, it was Alec Baldwin, it was Isaiah Washington, all unable to control their mouths. Hopefully, people will learn how to control their mouths, learn how to wear underwear in the new year and try to hire a chauffeur. Please, no more driving.
CHETRY: Exactly. A lot of people getting in trouble for the DUIs. But hey, you're out there in Times Square. Can you believe how early people start to lineup? I know they close off the roadways, but what is there to do in the hours leading up to the countdown out there in the cold?
OGUNNAIKE: Well, not much. You can pick up cool glasses like such. You can buy your hat, you can buy your paraphernalia. Some of the diners here, some of the restaurants. But I think everyone is just trying to get a great spot and stay there. If you get here too late in the day, you're not going to get a chance to see that ball drop. So everyone is really hoping to get a good spot and, like me, they're hoping to stay warm, Kiran.
CHETRY: Absolutely. So, you are chilly out there? You don't have a scarf, I noticed. You certainly don't have a hat or gloves. All you have are the '08 glasses.
OGUNNAIKE: I'm roughing it today, Kiran. But I've got these glasses. I'm saving a pair for you, girl. So, enjoy this evening, Kiran.
CHETRY: I'm just wondering, what are we ...
OGUNNAIKE: It's going to be a cold one.
CHETRY: Well, what are we going to do in 2010 when there are not two round eye holes for the glasses? We have to get creative.
OGUNNAIKE: I don't know. Maybe I'll have a 2010 tiara. That's what we'll do.
CHETRY: I knew you would have the answer. And sure enough, Lola, you do. All right. We'll see you out there tonight. Thanks for giving us a preview. By the way, for everyone that wants to come out there, it is going to be a blast tonight. You can ring in the new year with Anderson Cooper. I'll be out there in Times Square as well. All the festivities get under way at 11:00 Eastern.
ROBERTS: We want to know how you're going to ring in the New Year. To send your party pictures and videos, which we'll show. Go to cnn.com/iparty. It is going to be a whole lot of fun.
Since we're talking about entertainment, do you mind if I -- can I show this?
CHETRY: Absolutely.
ROBERTS: Because there was no return address. It was postmarked from her hometown. But remember, I had that little mishap Thanksgiving where I smashed up my neck a little bit? Miranda Lambert sent me a get well ...
CHETRY: How sweet. Who knew you had a fan, one of the country music stars sending you that?
ROBERTS: Between Kenny Chesney, your buddy and Miranda Lambert, who is watching the show, we are the home of country music here on AMERICAN MORNING.
CHETRY: Hey, wouldn't it be great to get them both performing here sometime in the summer?
ROBERTS: I saw a performance of her and (inaudible) together. Fantastic. Thank you, Miranda, for that.
CHETRY: By the way. And you look no worse for the wear. How is your neck?
ROBERTS: It's getting a little bit better.
CHETRY: All right.
ROBERTS: A quick look now at what CNN NEWSROOM is working on for the top of the hour.
COLLINS: See these stories in the CNN NEWSROOM. New video shows the attack on Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto.
Another round of violence following Kenya's disputed elections.
2007, now the deadliest year for U.S. troops in Iraq.
Australia and the western Pacific islands ring in 2008.
Stocks, the winners and losers for 2007.
And a wrong turn gets a plane stuck in the mud. NEWSROOM, top of the hour on CNN.
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ROBERTS: As you saw at the top of the hour here on AMERICAN MORNING, Sydney welcomed in 2008 with fire works in the Harbor. Brisbane and Guam are about to be the next place to say good-bye to 2007. Don't forget CNN is your place for the biggest party of them all. Kiran will be joining Anderson Cooper tonight from Times Square as a brand new ball comes down in the Big Apple about 15 hours from now, the party gets under way tonight at 11:00.
CHETRY: Two times brighter, but more energy efficient than last year's ball and also something from the confetti. Confetti is going to have little messages on it this year.
ROBERTS: People are actually invited to go on a Web site, text in a little message and they'll be printed out on pieces of confetti.
CHETRY: Pretty cool. All right. While speaking of New Year's, we wanted to know what your resolutions were for '08. Thirty-five percent of you said it was paying down credit or saving money. Forty percent want to exercise more or lose weight, 10 percent want to quit smoking and 15 percent, how about this, all the good Samaritans out there want to think of doing something nice for someone else more often than they did in '07. So all of you that voted, by the way, thank you.
ROBERTS: And thanks so much for joining us on this AMERICAN MORNING. You have fun tonight. I expect to see you bright and early tomorrow morning.
CHETRY: Thank you. I'm going to call you, 11:59.
ROBERTS: You'll be sleeping in tomorrow? I don't blame you.
CHETRY: Sure will.
Meanwhile, CNN NEWSROOM with Heidi Collins starts right now.
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